Study Spectra
Study Spectra
You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) unless you are exempt, proof of funds, and an online application. As shown by IRCC in October 2026, one applicant needs CAD $23,448 a year for living costs from 1 September 2026, plus tuition and transport. The Student Direct Stream ended on 8 November 2024.
What do you need for a Canada study permit from India?
You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) unless you are exempt, proof of funds, and an online application. As shown by IRCC in October 2026, one applicant needs CAD $23,448 a year for living costs from 1 September 2026, plus tuition and transport. The Student Direct Stream ended on 8 November 2024.
A study permit is the document IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) issues to let you study at a designated learning institution (DLI). IRCC's study permit page, read in October 2026, says most foreign nationals need one, that you should apply before you travel, and lists the permit fee as CAD $150. Applying is online for most people. Indian applicants use the same process as everyone else.
Two changes matter most for Indian students. First, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) is closed: IRCC's notice dated 8 November 2024 says the SDS and Nigeria Student Express ended at 2:00 p.m. ET that day, and that new applicants go through the regular study permit stream. Second, most students now need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) because of the national cap on study permits. Our study in Canada page gives the wider country picture, and the student visas overview compares routes.
| Requirement | What the official pages say (October 2026) | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Place at a DLI | You must be enrolled at a designated learning institution. A letter of acceptance is always required, with a narrow exception for some family members of someone whose application was approved in writing. | IRCC study permit eligibility and Get the right documents pages |
| PAL/TAL | Usually required, issued by the province or territory through your school. A 2026 letter is valid to 31 December 2026 and a letter from an earlier cap year cannot be used. | IRCC provincial attestation letter page |
| Proof of funds | Tuition, living costs for you and any accompanying family, and transport to and from Canada. Living-cost amounts are in the next section. | IRCC proof of financial support page |
| Law and health | Obey the law, have no criminal record (police certificate if required), be in good health (medical exam if required). | IRCC eligibility page |
| Intention to leave | You must show an officer you will leave Canada when your study permit expires. | IRCC eligibility page |
| Identity | A valid passport for you and each accompanying family member, plus two recent passport-size photos as listed on the Get the right documents page. | IRCC Get the right documents page |
IRCC describes the PAL/TAL as a letter confirming you have been assigned one of the available spaces in the province or territory where you plan to study. You get it through your school. The page says you should contact your DLI to find out how to apply, and it must be submitted with your application, not afterwards. Per the Get the right documents page, in most cases you must accept your offer and pay tuition, in full or in part, before you receive it.
Exemptions listed on the PAL/TAL page include preschool to grade 12, degree-granting master's or doctoral programs at a public DLI (for applications from 1 January 2026), Global Affairs Canada scholarship holders, exchange students who pay no tuition to the DLI, and some people already in Canada, such as those extending at the same DLI and level. If you rely on an exemption, IRCC says you must provide proof of it. For Quebec, IRCC says you generally need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead.
IRCC's 2026 allocation notice (published 25 November 2025) states a 2026 figure of 408,000 study permits, of which 155,000 are for newly arriving students, and 309,670 application spaces for students who need a PAL/TAL. The provinces and territories distribute their own spaces to their DLIs. These are planning figures, so we cannot tell you how many spaces any particular school has left.
As shown by IRCC's proof of financial support page in October 2026 (page details dated 28 August 2026), the living-cost amounts below exclude tuition and transport, and apply outside Quebec. For applications on or after 1 September 2026 the page lists CAD $23,448 for one person, $29,192 for two, $35,888 for three and $43,572 for four per year. For applications between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026 it lists $22,895 for one person. Confirm the current table on the official page before you apply, because IRCC revises it.
The same page says you must also prove you can pay tuition and transport, and that for programs longer than a year you must say how you plan to pay for the full duration. Examples of proof it lists include a receipt for first-year tuition and housing paid to your DLI, a student or education loan, a scholarship, a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution, six months of bank statements showing the source of income, and a letter from a person supporting you with a copy of their photo ID. It says these are examples, not a complete list. For how this fits your overall budget see our costs and proof of funds guide.
As shown by IRCC in October 2026, the study permit fee is CAD $150. The How to apply page lists the biometrics fee as CAD $85 for an individual and a maximum of CAD $170 for a family applying together. Medical exams, police certificates, language tests and visa application centre services are paid to those third parties, not through IRCC.
IRCC says biometrics apply to most applicants aged 14 to 79, are valid for once every 10 years, and must be given within 30 days of the date on IRCC's letter. Processing starts after IRCC receives them. The pages we read do not give a processing time for India; they point to IRCC's processing times tool, so check that tool for the current estimate rather than relying on any agent's number.
IRCC's work off campus page (page details dated 15 April 2026) says that if you are a full-time student at a DLI in a program of at least six months leading to a degree, diploma or certificate, with the work condition on your permit and a social insurance number, you may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular terms, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks set by your school. It warns that working more than the allowed hours breaches your permit conditions and can cost you your student status. Check the condition printed on your own permit, as the page notes it may state a different number.
For what comes after your studies, see our post-study work visas compared guide.
Study Spectra is a trading name of Spectravault Group LLP. We provide information and document-preparation support; immigration, visa and admission decisions rest solely with the relevant authorities and institutions. We do not currently hold an eMigrate recruiting-agent registration and we do not place people into overseas jobs. We do not guarantee admission or visas. See our Trust Center, our services or contact us. Other destinations: UK, USA, Australia and the wider study abroad hub. The UK and Australian equivalents are in our UK student visa guide and Australia subclass 500 guide.
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Information only, not legal advice.
No. IRCC's notice dated 8 November 2024 says the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express ended at 2:00 p.m. ET that day. Applications received after that time go through the regular study permit stream, and IRCC says all applicants must meet the standard requirements.
A provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is issued by the province or territory where you will study, through your school. IRCC says it confirms you have been assigned one of the available spaces. It is usually required and must be submitted with your study permit application.
IRCC lists several exemptions, including preschool to grade 12 and degree-granting master's or doctoral programs at a public DLI from 1 January 2026, among others. You must provide proof of the exemption. Check the full list on the IRCC provincial attestation letter page, and Quebec has its own CAQ rules.
As shown by IRCC in October 2026, living costs for one person are CAD $23,448 a year for applications from 1 September 2026 (outside Quebec), excluding tuition and transport. You must also show you can pay tuition and travel costs. Confirm the current table on the official page.
IRCC's study permit page lists the permit fee as CAD $150, and its How to apply page lists the biometrics fee as CAD $85 for an individual. IRCC says fees are the same for everyone, so a much higher charge is a warning sign.
IRCC's How to apply page says online application is required for study permits, with paper allowed only in limited cases such as a disability that prevents applying online. Check the India visa office instructions in your personalised checklist.
Yes. You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution. Look up the school and its DLI number on IRCC's list. Being a DLI does not guarantee a post-graduation work permit, because IRCC says not all programs at a DLI are PGWP-eligible.
IRCC's work off campus page says eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular terms and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. You need the work condition on your permit and a social insurance number. Exceeding the limit can cost you your status.
IRCC says biometrics generally apply to applicants aged 14 to 79, cost CAD $85 for an individual, and must be given within 30 days of IRCC's letter. They are valid for once every 10 years. Processing starts after IRCC receives them.
No. Study Spectra is a trading name of Spectravault Group LLP. We provide information and document-preparation support; immigration, visa and admission decisions rest solely with the relevant authorities and institutions. We do not guarantee admission or visas.